New England Patriots Sign Veteran Greg Van Roten Following Ben Brown’s Injury

The New England Patriots ended their preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts with a 13-13 tie, but suffered a significant setback in the process. During a play where quarterback Tommy DeVito was sacked, interior offensive lineman Ben Brown sustained an injury. Brown required assistance to leave the field, visiting the blue medical tent before heading to the locker room for further evaluation.

Head coach Mike Vrabel later announced that Brown would be sidelined for “a few weeks,” potentially extending to a couple of months, and certainly through the remainder of the preseason. In response to Brown’s absence, the Patriots swiftly signed veteran guard Greg Van Roten as his replacement.

Van Roten, 36 years old, brings a wealth of experience, having played in the NFL for over a decade. His career has included stints with the Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants, with a short period in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts.

Across his 11-year career, Van Roten has started 105 games, including every game in each of the past three seasons between the Giants and Raiders. He played under current New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels during his sole year with the Raiders in 2023.

During his time with the Giants last season, Van Roten earned a Pro Football Focus (PFF) overall grade of 65.4, ranking him 35th among 81 qualified guards. His pass-blocking grade was 70.2, placing him 22nd. He played the most snaps by any guard, with a total of 1,151.

After entering free agency as a top available lineman, Van Roten reunites with McDaniels in New England, a team with strong Super Bowl ambitions. His versatility in playing both guard positions provides essential flexibility for the Patriots’ offensive line.